[Time travel in Kanagawa] Autumn traditional performing arts 2023 Takigi Noh, Yamakita Omineiri, Puppet Joruri Bunraku

In the fall of 2023, various traditional performing arts performances were held in Kanagawa Prefecture. There will be a bonfire Noh performance performed on a stage lit with a bonfire, and a folk performing art commemorating the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage registration. Ningyo Joruri Bunraku brings you the performance commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Bunraku Association.
Top image: © Shinji Aoki

Kamakura Takigi Noh has the longest history after Nara and Kyoto

Photo provided by: Kamakura City Tourism Association

"Kamakura Takigi Noh" is a Shinto ritual Noh that has continued for more than half a century since its first performance in 1959. The venue, Kamakura Shrine, is a shrine that was built in 1869 by order of Emperor Meiji, and is commonly known as Daito-no-miya. The deity enshrined here is Imperial Prince Moriyoshi (Shinno Morinaga), the son of Emperor Go-Daigo.

This year, the 65th time, a special outdoor Noh stage and general seating were set up for the first time in five years.
The program is the simple song ``Okina'', a blessing song that is only performed during special performances. ``Roku Jizo'' is a Kyogen play that is full of confusion and laughter, in which three people act as six Jizo figures. These three Noh works, ``Hōgeso,'' feature kusemai, kakko, and short songs, as well as tense Zen debates and answers.

Kamakura Takigi Noh can be enjoyed in the forest of Kamakura as the sun sets and you can enjoy the rustic atmosphere while listening to the sounds of insects and the soft breeze. We invited performers who represent the world of Noh, and this year's event was once again a spectacular one.

[65th Kamakura Takigi Noh]
・Date and time: Friday, October 6, 2023, 18:00-20:30 *Ended
・Venue: Kamakura Shrine / Special stage [154 Nikaido, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Performance: Souyo “Okina” Norikazu Konparu (81st head of Shitekata Konparu-ryu)
Kyogen “Rokujizo” Mansai Nomura (Kyogen style Izumi style)
Noh "The Dismissal Monk" Yasuaki Konparu (Shitekata Konparu School 80th generation)
・Website here

Two days of passionate performances: Daizanbi Festival Takigi Noh

``Oyama Fire Festival Takigi Noh'' is held every year for two days in early October at Oyama Afuri Shrine in Isehara City. The performing arts ritual, which is said to have originated with Oyama Noh, which was born about 300 years ago, is also designated as an important cultural property of Isehara City.

In the Noh theater hall surrounded by the natural beauty of Mt. Daisen, a shrine maiden (miko) in a hakama costume offers a sacred fire, and a bonfire lights up to illuminate the stage. Once the quaint space is set up with the lush greenery of the trees in the background, you'll be ready for Daisen's autumn tradition, the Fire Festival Takigi Noh. This year, the 42nd time, it rained on the second day of October 3rd and 4th, but many people visited on both days and were captivated by the mysterious world.

[42nd Great Mountain Fire Festival Takigi Noh]
・Date and time: October 3rd (Tuesday) and 4th (Wednesday), 2023 16:30-19:30 *Ended
・Venue Oyama Afuri Shrine Social Affairs Bureau Noh Theater [355 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Performance: First day (October 3rd)
Noh “Aoiue” Kiyokazu Kanze
Kyogen “Sohachi” Tojiro Yamamoto
“The Alone Old Man” Saburota Kanze
Closing dance “Dokan” Kimitake Ueda
"Tenko" Chitoshi Matsuki
Day 2 (October 4th)
Noh “Kiyotsune” Saburota Kanze
Kyogen “Fukushi” Norishige Yamamoto
“The Alone Old Man” Yaemon Yamashina
Closing dance “Dokan” Kojiro Kado
“Ami no Dan” Shigeyoshi Asami
・Website here

Continuing the tradition with UNESCO registration: Entering the mountains of Yamakita

``Yamakita no Omineiri'' is a folk performing art that has been passed down in the Kyowa district of Yamakita Town in western Kanagawa Prefecture since ancient times and has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property. In November 2022, it was decided that Furyu Odori would be registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as one of the dances that continue to reflect the history and climate of the region, and a commemorative performance was held on October 8 of this year.

It is thought to be an entertainment version of Shugendo rituals held in the mountains, and has only been performed 20 times in the last 160 years. All of the 11 performances in 8 types, including stick dance, michigyo, and misogi, have been passed down by word of mouth. This year, the 21st time, more than 80 men, ranging from elementary school students to the elderly, created new history by performing the roles of Tengu, Lion, Okame, Yamabushi, Taiko, and Flute.

[Yamakita Omine Commemorative Performance]
・Date and time: October 8, 2023 (Sunday)
Ceremony 9:10-9:40 / Commemorative performance 9:50-11:00 *Ended
・Venue Yamakita Town Kawamura Elementary School Ground [1002 Yamakita, Yamakita Town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Website here

[Traveling and performances in the “Kanagawari Classics Project”]
・Date and time: February 11, 2024 (Sunday/Holiday)
"Michiyuki" 11:30-12:00 / Performance 14:00-
・Venue “Michiyuki” Ebina Station Free Passageway [3-3 Megumi-cho, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture]
“Performance” Ebina City Cultural Hall [6-1 Megumi-cho, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Website here

A masterful technique that infuses a sense of life: Ningyo Joruri Bunraku

©Shinji Aoki

On October 15th, there was a performance of ``Ningyo Joruri Bunraku,'' another UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and Japan's world-famous classical performing art. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Bunraku Association, this nationwide tour was held in Kanagawa Prefecture with two performances, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center in Yokohama.

The night session I watched was a piece called ``Katsuragawa Renri no Shigarami,'' a sewamono work that takes as its theme the world of common people. Since the story revolves around the complicated love affairs of a man and a woman, I decided to buy a pamphlet at the store and prepare for the performance while waiting for the performance to begin.

Ningyo Joruri Bunraku consists of a tayu who can freely narrate everything from the characters' lines to emotions and the development of a scene, a shamisen player who sits next to him and who uses tones to express the scenery and psychology, and a puppeteer. This is a puppet show that adults can enjoy, based on the use of tools. When the ``sangyo'' (tayu, shamisen player, and puppeteer) work together, the puppets come to life and the piece comes to life.

When the curtain rises, the puppets and puppeteers stand in the front and perform, while on the sub-stage on the right called the yuka, the tayu and shamisen players sit seiza, sometimes leaning forward to perform with their voices and the sound of the shamisen. Let's continue talking. This time, the distance from the audience was close, and it was quite a sight to see.

When you actually see the doll, it has a small head and long limbs, making it bigger and more impressive than you might imagine. Three puppeteers, the main puppeteer (omozukai) who handles the head and the right hand, the left puppeteer (hidarizukai) who handles the left hand, and the foot puppeteer (ashizukai) who expresses expression with the feet, make one puppet supple. It's so beautiful that you can see it in action. It is a moment when you can feel the charm of traditional art and the depth that is backed by history.

This performance began with Tayu giving an explanation focusing on the plot, and during the performance there were electric subtitles on the left side of the stage. In addition, in the lobby, there was an exhibition introducing Ningyo Joruri Bunraku, including panels with photos of the highlights and videos of the works, making it possible to feel up close to the classical performing arts.

[Bunraku Association 60th Anniversary Ningyo Joruri Bunraku]
・Date and time: October 15, 2023 (Sunday) Daytime performance starts at 13:00, Evening performance starts at 17:00 *Ended
・Venue Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall [9-1 Momijigaoka, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Explanation of the program (daytime section) [Focusing on the plot]
Yoshitsune Senbonzakura
Shii wood tier, sushi restaurant tier
(Night session) Commentary [Focusing on the synopsis]
Katsuragawa Renri Fence
The steps of Rokkakudo, the steps of obi shop, and the Katsuragawa River of Oboro Road
・Website here

Text/Mai Shimura (editor writer)